Estimate of genetic variations in Hokkaido brown bears (Ursus arctos yesoensis) by DNA fingerprinting.

Genetic variations within and between local populations of Hokkaido brown bears, Ursus arctos yesoensis, were quantified by means of DNA fingerprinting using a minisatellite DNA probe. The estimates of the average heterozygosity (gene diversity) H were 0.302 and 0.241 for the populations on the southwestern part of the Oshima peninsula and the Shiretoko peninsula, respectively. These values suggest that local populations studied in this study have low genetic variability compared with those for other animals. The degree of genetic differentiation between the populations, measured by the coefficient of gene diversity (GST), was 7.9 percent and 19.5 percent. These results indicate a low degree of genetic differentiation between the local populations. The results obtained are discussed in relation to a population bottleneck in the ancestors and subsequent expansion of their habitat.